Lt. Col. Claude Lee Hicks Jr. USAF (Ret)

Mr. Hicks was born on May 2, 1923, in Thomasville, to the late Claude Lee Hicks Sr. and Ida Lee Maness Hicks.

He was of the Baptist faith and attended Robins Air Force Base Chapel.

With pride, honor and courage, Lt. Colonel Hicks served his country in the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Air Force. Bravely serving the United States of America in three wars, he began his military career in the U.S. Navy in 1942, where he obtained the rank of Petty Officer.

In early 1946, after serving in the Hawaiian Islands and continuing through Australia, New Guinea, Indonesia and culminating with the invasion of the Philippine Islands in 1945, Petty Officer Hicks returned to civilian life in the United States.

In the same year, he applied for the U.S. Air Force Officer Candidate School and was accepted and processed at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. Officer Hicks was commissioned in 1950 at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. He graduated with an Associate’s Degree in 1949 from Brevard College.

In early 1951, Second Lieutenant Hicks entered the Armament Officer’s System course at Lowry Air Force Base, Colorado.

After graduation, he was assigned to the 23rd Fighter Interceptor Wing at Presque Isle, Maine and was subsequently transferred to Korea as Squadron Armament Officer in a B-26 combat unit.

After a two year tour of duty at Warner Robins Air Material Area as Operations Branch Chief in the C-130 System Support Management Division, Major Hicks was selected for exchange duty with the Royal New Zealand Air Force at Wellington, New Zealand.

In 1966, Major Hicks was assigned to HQ TAC, Directorate of Logistic Plans in the General War and Exercises Branch.

In 1968, Lt Col Hicks was assigned to the Military Assistance Command, Bangkok, Thailand as Chief of Plans and Programs in the Military Assistance program Directorate.

In 1971, Lt Col Hicks returned to TAC and was assigned Chief of the Logistic Support Division. Lt Col Hicks decorations include the Bronze Star, Air Force Commendation Medal, Joint Services Commendation Medal, among so many others. He retired from the United States Air Force in 1975 after an honorable and distinguished career. Lt Col Hicks, having been stationed at Robins Air Force Base earlier in his career and liked the area so much he and his wife, Phyllis, settled in Perry after his retirement.

For several years, he built houses for Habitat for Humanity and sets for Warner Robins Little Theatre.

When his family gathered, they enjoyed the bounty of his vegetable gardens as much as he enjoyed the work of growing them. He was also an avid golfer.

His family is proud to carry on the legacy of a life well lived.

In addition to his parents, his beloved wife, Phyllis Ruth Womer Hicks, also preceded him in death.